MTFCA Forum

I just spent an Hour and 45 minutes Changing a tire on a de mountable rim for my '27 RPU. what a pain **&^%&*^%. The three legged tool took the rim out ok but putting the new tire on with the same tool it tied to bend the rim before the ends were even close to coming in alignment. I made a special tool to hook into the ends and spread the rim into position but not being able to harden the tool it was a one time use item. the tire is on and holding air but I am hesitant to do the other 3 tires. does someone know of an easier way to change tires?

You are working too hard so must bedoing it wrong. Only compress the rim a couple of inches, no farther than the tire stem. You will need 2 or 3 long tire irons to pry the tire off the rim or to inatall on the rim. If you try to compress the rim enough to drop the tire out you will damage the rim. When you expand the rim it will need coaxing to get the ends of the rim to pop together. I use the tire iron to pry the edges of the rim that last little bit to push the rim from an overlap to a butted condition. Where you place the 3 legs of the rim spreader may be working against you. To push the rim together I put the one fixed arm against the rim end without the stem hole about 4 inches from the split and the other 2 legs evenly spaced to make a "Y" shape. Place the tire stem at an angle away from the split and it will straighten up as the rim expands.

@ our weekly thursday T party we R&R'd a set of 5 tires from a T that hadnt been run for 50 + years. The job took about 1 1/2 hours. I dont do many split rims or often & was surprised how easy it was.
Place the hook end about 4-5" from the edge of the split to be opened. Close the rim to overlap about 3". Rim easily slips out from the tire. Powder in tire, inflate tube a little & fit rim liner. Place tire unit on a table. Set rim on top (not changed from removal with spreader in the same position). Work on the tire around starting from the split. Make sure the rim is on both beads. Turn up to check if you cant feel it. Open the spreader. Move the hook end about 2" from the open end. Crank her closed(the rim). 3 popped right in. set the lock. 2 were close & needed some prying with a large screwdriver between the split ends & a tap or 2 with a rubber mallet. If the stem isnt quite centered, over bend in the opposite direction whall filling. We did not use any liquid on the tire. I normally would, but everything went together so easy, it was not needed.

DO NOT FORCE BY BEATING, you only damage the rim. Use common sense. Your ease in getting the rim end to meet & lock will vary depending on the rim's previous abuse.

When you have the rim out, evaluate for the need to correct previous abuse making the rim out of round. Straighten if necessary.(make round)

If it might be of any help, below's link to a YouTube video I watched numerous times before I tried changing a flat on my '21 Touring with 21" Chevy spilt rims. I did not use the turnbuckles as a long time antique tire salesman & authority in the Lake (of the Ozarks) loaned me his three prong compressor. He claims the turnbuckles can end up bending the rim. Did use lots of Baby Powder, two long tire spoons from Tractor Supply, lots of PRAYER, and a lot of PATIENCE! After two you'll get a feel for it!

YOUTUBE VIDEO - CHANGING TIRE ON 21" SPLIT RIMS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvf2nZ6ciDk

Tom Donnelly wrote: ↑

Mon May 09, 2022 3:36 pm

If it might be of any help, below's link to a YouTube video I watched numerous times before I tried changing a flat on my '21 Touring with 21" Chevy spilt rims. I did not use the turnbuckles as a long time antique tire salesman & authority in the Lake (of the Ozarks) loaned me his three prong compressor. He claims the turnbuckles can end up bending the rim. Did use lots of Baby Powder, two long tire spoons from Tractor Supply, lots of PRAYER, and a lot of PATIENCE! After two you'll get a feel for it!

YOUTUBE VIDEO - CHANGING TIRE ON 21" SPLIT RIMS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvf2nZ6ciDk

Comments on the video:
The turnbuckle doesnt contract the rim far enough. A rims spreader also pulls the end away making for a smaller rim. This method shown NEEDED tire irons like mounting a clincher. This job on a split rim should be & is easier. I does prove a simple turnbuckle tool will work. A rim spreader works MUCH better. The extra powder mess isnt necessary. Some liquid soap on the bead would have been helpful here, especially in trying to rotate the tire for the valve stem. Aligning the valve stem should have been done before getting the rim ends into locking position. Counter bending the stem whall inflating works also.
The rim was EXCEPTIONALLY good. After removing the turnbuckle, the overlap was less than 3/8". I dont think I ever had one that good to work with. Notice, no need to beat on it.

Would this help ? Split rims are the easiest to work with.

It can get tough when installing old shrunk tires. I just did some. The spreader would not do it. The split would not just go together. I put my porta power from one lug to the other, about 1 minute it was done.

My experience is limited to just two 23" Chev split rims I am running on my 1924 tourer. I know about swapping the tool around from the opening position to the closing position once the tyre is fitted. I would appreciate some instructions for this. The posted Hercules material is too small for me to read, and doesn't appear to show the refitting position of the tool arms.

Allan from down under.

Thanks all and thank you George the instructions do clarify how to use the tool. Allan if you make the posted instructions the background photo on your desktop they are readable. Hummm? the instructions only show how to remove the rim not how to install the rim in a new tire.